Back in 2016, we welcomed 50,000 bees to our Baglan head office.

Looking back now, in our 15th year, that moment marked the start of an ambitious journey, one that would eventually see our colleagues showcasing our future‑focused land‑management approach in the Senedd just eight years later.

Two years after our bees settled in, we achieved Bee Friendly status and began working with Buglife Cymru to create vital pollinator corridors—known as BLines, across our land.

These efforts were strengthened by partnerships with groups such as NPT Wildlife and The Orchard Project, helping us establish community orchards, new woodlands and wildflower areas.

All of these spaces bring nature closer to our tenants and create opportunities for communities to get involved.

As Kate Davies from The Orchard Project put it:

“It’s been such a marvellous thing to see the residents getting involved. These trees will not only provide nutritious fruit but will encourage biodiversity and pollinators. Trees directly improve our wellbeing.”

Through Community Benefits funding, we’ve also supported hundreds of grassroots projects that encourage local groups to improve biodiversity where they live.

“Changing attitudes is never something that happens overnight, and some more rigid or outdated ideas of ‘neatness’ have needed to be challenged occasionally.”
Andrew Carey, Assets Director

During the Covid pandemic, reduced grounds maintenance around our head office offered an unexpected insight: when nature is given space, it thrives.

This moment of realisation inspired a shift in our land‑management approach.

We moved towards environmentally sensitive maintenance, including a reduced mowing schedule that works with seasonal patterns rather than against them. Our Neighbourhood colleagues also received specialist biodiversity training, becoming ambassadors who could share their knowledge with tenants.

In 2024, that commitment was recognised when our colleagues were invited to present at the Nature and Us event in the Senedd.

There, they had the chance to share our approach with decision‑makers, businesses and partner organisations, showcasing how a local housing provider can lead the way in climate action.